Taper lock inserts for thumb and fingers in bowling balls

ABSTRACT

An insert for installation within a bowling ball and which has a particularly designed hexagonal opening for loosely receiving a thumb, and wherein the lower or nail portion of the opening depresses and locks the thumb evenly on five sides of the opening, the insert extending radially, and the end thereof being flush with the face of the ball.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,804,412

Chetirko Apr. 16, 1974 [5 TAPER LOCK INSERTS FOR THUMB AND 2,661,951 12/1953 Uhas 273/63 A FINGERS [N BOWLING BALLS 3,342,488 9/1967 Novatnak 273/63 A 2,207,404 7/1940 Hinkley 273/63 B x [76] Inventor: John Chetirko, 43-35 Union St.,

Flushing, NY. 11355 [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:376,797

[52] U.S. Cl 273/63 A [5 1] Int. Cl A63!) 37/00 [58] Field of Search 273/63, 54, 64, 58, 128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,485,471 10/1949 Bates 273/63 A Primary ExaminerGeorge J Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carl Miller [5 7] ABSTRACT An insert for installation within a bowling ball and which has a particularly designed hexagonal opening for loosely receiving a thumb, and wherein the lower or nail portion of the opening depresses and locks the thumb evenly on five sides of the opening, the insert extending radially, and the end thereof being flush with the face of the ball.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TAIER LOCK INSERTS FOR THUMB AND FINGERS IN BOWLING BALLS This invention relates generally to bowling balls such as are used in the game of bowling.

It is well that in all conventional bowling balls a grip is employed that is in the form of a radii, round, oval or the like, so that whena player grips with the radii the thumb does not grip evenly but distends in different directions. This is an objectionable situation and is accordingly in want of an improvement.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide taper lock insert for a bowling ball, and wherein the insert has a hexagonal opening of special design which allows a thumb to enter it loosely, and which then locks the thumb evenly on five sides of the opening.

Another object is to provide a taper lock insert in which one side of the hexagonal opening is at a 4 angle so to control the amount of taper lock and eliminate pinching of the thumb at the nail by raising it to a larger size in the hole.

Other objects are to provide a taper lock insert which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

' the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling ball shown incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking into the direction of the arrows thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view in direction 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in direction 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a slot for fingers where two sizes are joined by two flats.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a taper lock insert according to the present invention wherein the same is molded of rigid plastic material. and consists of an elongated cylindrical shape having a cylindrical outside wall 11 between opposite end walls 12 and 13. A hexagonal opening 14 extends concentrically therethrough and in cludes five equal sides 15 that are each constantly parallel to the central axis, of the insert throughout their length, and a sixth side 16 which extends inclined at 4 respective to the central axis, so that at the outer end wall 12 the shape of the hexagonal opening is not equvilateral because the side 16 is closer to the axial center than are the sides 15. Corners of 60 are be tween the six. The converging end of the opening 14 is located within the interior of the ball.

The insert is glued into the bowling ball 17, and the outer end wall 12 is finished flush with the ball face. A]- ternately, the insert can be made so it is bolted inside the ball 17, so that it is replaceable if desired.

In use, the thumb I8 is inserted loosely into the opening 14, and the nail portion depresses and locks the thumb evenly on five sides with clearance for the back of the thumb (or knuckle) on the sixth side 16.

In FIG. 5 a slot 19 is illustrated diagramatically and which is for fingers where two sizes are joined by two flats. Thus there is provided a taper lock insert having the advantage of more comfort and giving a better feel of the ball. A bowler can knuckle all he wants without injury to the knuckle of the thumb or finger. It is easier for a bowler to pick out hole sizes. In the back swing where bowlers feel they are loosing the ball, there is definite feeling of being locked in. The release is automatic with the forward swing. Hanging in the ball is practically nonexistant. The conformity of the grip will do away with a lot of weird pitches of the holes. The span between the thumb and finger will not cause as much concern as with present conventional balls, because the taper lock remains constant no matter how deep or shallow is the grip, the knuckles being in the hole. Callouses and the like will be relatively minor matters or none, depending on the amount of the bowling that is done.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various ommissions, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my inventions, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a taper lock insert for thumb and fingers in a bowling ball, the combination of a one piece elongated member made of plastic installed in a bowling ball, and means for loosely receiving a thumb and wherein the lower or nail portion of a hexagonal opening through said member depresses and locks said thumb evenly on five sides of said opening.

2. The combination as set forth in claim I wherein said hexagonal opening is concentric with a longitudinal axis of said member, with five sides of said opening being parallel and equidistant respective to said axis throughout their length.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a sixth side of said hexagonal opening extends longitudinally at a 4 angle respective to said axis.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein 7 other. 

1. In a taper lock insert for thumb and fingers in a bowling ball, the combination of a one piece elongated member made of plastic installed in a bowling ball, and means for loosely receiving a thumb and wherein the lower or nail portion of a hexagonal opening through said member depresses and locks said thumb evenly on five sides of said opening.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hexagonal opening is concentric with a longitudinal axis of said member, with five sides of said opening being parallel and equidistant respective to said axis throughout their length.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a sixth side of said hexagonal opening extends longitudinally at a 4* angle respective to said axis.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sides of said opening are at 60* respective to each other. 